Planograpli co



' E. SCHNEIDER.

SUSPENSION APPARATUS roa GUN CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE. 1,310,146.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG.2I. ma. v f

Patented July 15, 1-919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

e kor. V Wm,

rm! COLUMBIA PLANOURAPII co., WASHINGTON, b. c.

E. SCHNEIDER.

SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR auN CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.21, I918- Patented July 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- nveiatar.

ui iiaivz eye THE COLUMBIA PLANUGIZAPH cm. WASHINGTun, u. c.

E. SCHNEIDER.

SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR GUN GARRIAGES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.2I. I918.

Patented July 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

izzvezzzay. W JM Elia/ways NOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON n c E. SCHNEIDER.

SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR GUN CARRIAGES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-21. I918.

1,310,146., Patented July 15, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

\ .Z'nvenor.

WIMMAI MM fitter/gays.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOIJRAPH 60-. WASHINGTON, D. c.

ISTATEFJ" PATENT EUGENE SCHNEIDER, or Penis, men, ASSIGNOBiTQ SCHNEIDER 8;. 611a, oF-j fo'al l whomitimay concern." Y I -Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER,

a citizen ofathe' F'rench Republic, and a resident of 412Ru'e' -d' Anjou Paris; France, have invented anew and 'useful Improvement in I 'SuspensionfAppa/ratus' for Grun-JCarriages:

and the like, which invention isfully. set I forth in thefollowing specification; I I

' I, This invention. has for its object to pro- [1- vide an improvedfelastic suspension apparatus for gun carriage frames and the like. According to this invention the gun 'car-; riage framing has connected to it a- .plu-.

I ""rality of pistons each working in a cylinder 1015 a hydro-pneumatic recuperator attached. I I to the corresponding axle: ofthe carriage:-

f. These recuperators are soconstructed that their pneumatic pressure transmitted by the wliquid to one of the' fa'ces of the pistons, 0 normally balances, with a smallsuitably de- I termined excess, the weightkof the gun care riage framing and-its load, whereby'an elasticsuspension is provided? for the load duringtraveling andif desired also-when at 2 5 rest. The said re'cuperators are combined with "a p ump the operation of which allows I of exerting upon the: opposite: faces 01": the pistons a pressure that is greaterthan the: lex ce'ss over the-pressure balancingwthei load.

' Since thelexc'ess ofbalancing pressuremay be Imadea-s smallas desired, this'o'peration can" be efiected without the expenditure of form of pneumatic pressure:

it is resting' upon. the ground, and on, the

other hand forfraising the carriage framing when the wheels are resting on the grounds A constructionalz form 'and'manneriof ap'-'- v plication of this invention are illu'str'ated .by Iway of example in the accompanymg' 1d awings in-which'z I "F gure 1 is'a partlel'evation'of a gun car riage framing-provided with a suspension 5 apparatusaccordlng tOlZhlSlllVGIltlOIl. This suspension! apparatus is shown in vertical I I sectionon the line l -foff'Figg 2, that i I I I 3 tosay,ialbngj the a'x'isof the combined hydropneumatic: recuperaton and pump;

' line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

I much power and will thus. enable the car-n l-riageframing to be loweredarelativelyto its axles by its own weight, while the power consumed by. the pump is conserved in the This: con-'- The recuperators constructed as hereinbe- M1 105 number ('for instance: two'on' the hind axle 'PAR Is FRANCE, A LIMI'ILED JOINT-STOCK 'qoMPA v'Y OFJFRANGE. I

sUsPENsIoN PPAmLrUs F03. G N-omens AND E LIKE; Specification of LettersPatent, Patented J jly 15 1919', i

I. I Application filedAugtstZl, 1918*. Serial No. 250,86 3. i

.Fig;- 2 is acorresponding part pl'anpartly in. section on the line 11 11 of-Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 ista vertical" section on the fline'v III-III of Fig.1 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on a larger scale of the" combined recuperator andpump. I

F igr 511s a partial detail elevation onv a largerxscaleoi the combined pump, and recuperator. i I. f

'Fig. 6 is a partial sidej'elevation corre spond-ingto Fig. 5-. 1 a

1 Fig. 7 is a section on a larger scale on the Figs. 8' and 9 are'elevations-partly-in f tical section similar to Fig.- 1, showing dife 0" ferent relative posltions of 'theficarria ge framingand the wheel a-X'les;

i A' 's a gun carriage framing or otherfsup porting structure,uada'ptedtobe guidedon. the. wheelaxles B by means of side'plates A which are formed forthis-purpose'iwithopenings a The carriage framing SA has fixed to it a plurality of. pistons ,G which for thispurpose may be attached by means of the ends oftheir piston rodsto -cross-xg heads A platesA 1 Each piston C, orks-in one of the'cylinr ders D of} a hydro-pneumatic recuperaton DE combined with: a pump F. The com-: bined, pump and recuperator D.' E.,,iF;. is; fixed to the wheel! axleB and is guided in provided between the side guides A provided between the side plates.

A of the carriage framing. The cylinder 'E of the recuperator communicates; at its lower end by means of a duct e with, the cylinder D. This cylinder D may onthe other hand be placed in" communication at its upper end by means of a duct- 02 with a duct 6? delivering into the liquid contained in the cylinder E. The pump FH d-elivers-F' into this duct. '6 the'pump itself being-10 cated in a liquid tank G. The 'cylinde'riDr" may also be placed in" communicationbyq means of a duct ulRwith the-tank Gr The ducts d, e and'dr may be'opened or closed] by means of the needle valves H, I; J ,respec-y tivelyfl f Y fore described, and provided in anydesireda and one on the' front 'aX-le)", are charged-win. such a mannerthat uornially,wvl1en .the care riage framing is in position for traveling, the cylinder D will be full of liquid; the cylinder E containing a charge of air or gas under pressure above a partial charge of liquid. The upper face of the piston is then subjected only to the action of the liquid confined above it which is at atmospheric pressure. The needle valves'I-I, J and I occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1, i and 5, that is to say, H and I are closed, whereas J is open. The pressure of the gas in the cylinders E is such that its action upon the lower face of the pistons will balance in its totality, with an excess 39 the weight 79 of the carriage framing with its load, so that if P is the total pressure exerted upon the lower faces of the pistons C, then I P:p+p

The small excess of pressure is exerted upon the lower face of the pistons for the purpose of avoiding any accidental disturbance of equilibrium and of preventing excessive oscillation during transport. Belleville washers K may be located around the lower end of each piston rod between the point of attachment of the latter and the lower end of the cylinder D.

With the parts arranged as just described, it will be clear that the carriage framing with its load is suspended elastically upon the wheel axles; the charge of gas under pressure contained in the cylinders E serving as a damping cushion. In the case where the wheels meet a raised portion of the ground or any other obstacle, the entirety of the recuperators with the wheel axle will rise relatively to the pistons; the liquid forced underneath the lower face of the pistons having a tendency to flow back into the cylinders E. When, on the contrary, the wheels meet a depression in the ground, the descent of the cylinders D, E, tends to cause the liquid confined in the cylinders D above the pistons, to flow back into the tanksG.

At the same time the Belleville washers 1C are compressed; their presencepreventing any sudden descent of the cylinders D relatively to the points of the attachment A of the piston rods. When the liquid has flowed from E back toward D, the pressure of the gas in the recuperators diminishes and balances the load only to a partial extent. The load therefore tends to descend in its turn until the parts resume their position of equilibrium shown in Fig. 1.

In order to bring the platform A from the position for traveling into the firing position, that is to say, to bring it to a position in which it rests upon the ground, the improved suspension apparatus may be employed as lifting jacks. For this purpose it will be sufficient to operate the pistons of the pumps F, after having firstmoved the valves H, J, into the proper positions, that is to say, after having closed J and opened H. The movements of these valves may be coordinated by meansof a device hereinafter described. If, now, the 'levers L- are actuated, liquid will be drawn through the clacks f in the tanks G, and will be delivered by the next stroke through the clacks 7 and the ducts (Z (Fig. 5) into the cylinders D. The delivery pressure produced by the pumps acts upon the Whole of the upper surface of the pistons C, and it is sufficient for it to attain a value 29 greater than 70 to enable the carriage framing with its load to descend as a whole with the pistons C, the side plates A sliding in this movement on the wheel axles B. The platform A can then be brought into contact with the ground, Fig. 8, quickly and with a minimum consumption of power. In this movement the pistons C have forced the, liquid under their lower faces back through the ducts 6, into the cylinders E, thereby compressing the gas charge in these cylinders. Apart from the loss of pressure due to friction, the power consumed in forcing back the pistons is thusconserved in the form of pneumatic pressure in the cylinders E. The result is that as soon as the platform A has come into contact with the ground. the energy which has been conserved in the cylinders E now becomes available. If it is desired to return the carriage framing into its initial position (Fig. 1) it is sufficient to move the valves H and J back into the positions shown in Fig. 5. From that moment, the liquid confined above the pistons C can flow back into the tanks G by the action of the expansion of the gas in the recuperator cylinders E.

If, for the purpose of relieving the wheels of all strain during firing, or for any other reason, it is desired to remove these wheels from all contact with the ground, this maneuver may also ,be effected by utilizing the energy conserved in the cylinders E. For this purpose the valves H and J are left in the positions they occupied during the descent of the carriage framing, that is to say, H is open and J is closed; and the valve I is opened. The liquid in the cylinders E is thus placed in communication with the liquid in the cylinders D, thereby balancing the pressure per unit of surface upon the pistons C. The total pressure upon the upper faces of the pistons consequently exceeds the pressure upon the lower faces by an amount which is sufiicient to raise the wheeled axles relatively to the pistonsOthat are fixed to the carriage framing A. The parts thus resume the positions shown in Fig. 9. The rise of the wheel axles is limited by their striking against the upper end of the openings (1 i If, starting from the position shown in Fig. 9, it is desired to return the carriage lem framing into the traveling cip-ositiont:IQFig: f" v 1;), fit is merely necessaryto; close the valves I 'and H and to open the valves J. 1 1

tfnByfithe action ofrthe pressureof the gas in g the cylinders E, and of? the weighttofgthe' i of -the;.g;I=' uI.l; i, Qso x-that the-pistons.-

Will

riageframin g -with its'loadw v 4 :I;t; is -to; 'be understoodthat this pper'atlon causes a quantity of liquidto fiow vtro-m the.

cylinders D back-into;theitankse so. that amcuaema is: discharged, from D, during 310;havinguopenedr-the Valves" I. A Y pressure 5 gageM fixed 'orr'eanh cylinden E, allows of asfiertaining; that the pressure; in; the recup e/raters; hasbeen: duly= restored.- to the-, de-

the M ire JJJ wh n' the lat eris p n-r iTh .v re 'k g 1 63 1 ij so c r s a I h ndle== Q 7 1.4.53?

o y nde A whe the s me 1 j 01; asshQwn closing is ne es r it is im I of, which; can then. -;;engage in lthei'groove j the bpenating knob. of he; latter; I If; then,

. the rocking beam be caused to rock in such I a manner alSftQ cause its bolt Z O "to engage locked, and can open onl 'H hasqoeen;previously?closedi w i I I I ,vice1for;;enabling the arrecuperator cylinders-r 5615i EItQbe chargedwith g'asunderpressure.

. wheel axles, thefilatter will descend relatively; to: the carriagea framing? the lower ".tacesl oiz'xthe pistons constituting'an afloutrn ent.

' The liquid which. isv tweedv back by; the'descent of thelvcyli-nd'ers D flows intothe-fhanks t :f- Gm 'Ass' soon as the iwheelsifare resting upon the ground, the pressure? of; "the; gases,v in E J whichwas previously-acting upon'QItheendsa of theqcylindersiD, istaken Hey-the resistance 1 other of then rise;- and. carryxup with them,-the "ear--;

1 thei quantity of liquid tinfgthe recuperator,

cyil indersrE is; diminished hy; the small thefdescent of the wheelszuntil they: .come in- I 1.; oQntac't: with, the grou d; In; (order to 're, c establish the initial pressureinthe recuperaQf tors,-,E,Vit, is}:ritecessarytherefore to lees.

" tablish- ;;the -,;leye1; geffa the: liquid and", this; is; v easily ,done by operating the pumps F- after I I gSa; attiiireimieaa devic'ror iformed as aspring Iboltg '5 The noseof the -Q 1 i adap e to eng gea v ne eot er of; tw'ogsqc e ray.0?,- ferme in 1 t e. w l :of. f

It willv be perceived" that engaged the f socket I I I open. On-the' Jableto-elose fl hisz- I qrde taaHowoft-thev '7 9v men of he ro king b ams heafm N v formed betweengthe body of the valvel'J after: the a-yalve Having nowzdesc'zfihed invention what i I I claim as new, and desire too secure.

ters. Patent is;

' 1. In suspensiontapparatus tor; gun; car-. 1 I

a, piston working therein, 'connectionsvbe l' tween one. of said. recuperatorielements. and

saidv frame, and conneetionsfbetween. the;

said recuperatorelementsandsaid:

In ia pfigf 'f I i. v

ri-age framesj and the like, the combination;

I with the carriage frame a wheel axle-I thereofiwo'f a plurality of hydro pneumati c recuperators eachcomprisingawcylinder and a piston! working therein, fconnectioflsf leetween lsai'dipistensf said fr'ame, and con-.

nections between said cylinders and said axle, thef.pressure of the fluid in said re- I II cuperators' on: the supporting-faces? oi said" pistons?over-balancingby a small excess the weight of said iframeanditsloada 3' n; fi-

111 suSpeu 0n ap aratuscfor' u ncar r1age;frames and: the like, the com ination' wlth. the carriage; frame, and a-wheel axle-1" thereof, of a plurality-of.hydro-pneumatic.' recuperatorseach comprising a cylinder and? a .pisbon:.- working; therein, connections-be tween said recu'perator elements aild' said- I frame; and axle," the normaltoperative pres I sure 1n sald recuperators overs-balancing i by asmallfamount the weightiof said" frame andcits .load ,and= means for overcoming said:

excess .of pressure to lowe respect to said axle. 1

L -In suspensionapparatus forguncar5j .1 f

, ria-ge framesand' the'like, the comblntlon with the carriage-frame 1 andv a wheel axle thereof;v off a plurality of,hydro-pneumatierecuperators eachacomprising a cylinder and a plston working therein, connections? bej tween said -recuperator eIementS Jand said;

frameand axle, thenormal operative pres-lg sure'in said 'recuperator's overebalaneingvbi a small amount-the weight of? saidvframe and its load, and means topump fluidint'o said .recuperators toovercome' said -excess' of pressure and lower said {frame with respect to said axle. j

In suspension apparatus for "gun-c riage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a. wheelaa xle thereof, ,off a hydro pneuinatic recuperato comprismg a cylinder and a "piston worki therein, connections between said reoupera-s t'or ,elements and said frame and axle, 'th normal operatlve pressure in said recupera tor belngin excess, by a small amount, or

that. necessary to balance sa i'd' frame andits;

a d" a pump forbuildingup an-' -opposing pressure to lower .saidframe {with r P$ t0vSaidaXlefl ire pressure to lower said frame with respect to said axle and increase the pressure in said recuperator, and means to release said opposing pressure whereby said increasedpressure in the recuperator will beoperative to raise said frame with respect to said axle.

7 In suspension apparatus for gun carriage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a cylinder and a piston working therein, connections between said recupera tor elements and said frame and axle, the normal operative pressure in said recuperator being in excess,.by a small amount, of that necessary to balance said frame and its load, a pump for building up an opposing pressure to lower. said frame with respect to said axle and increase the pressure in said recuperator, and means whereby said increased pressure in the recuperator is made effective to raise said axle said frame.

8'. In suspension apparatus for guncarriage frames-and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a cylinder and a piston working therein, connections between said recuperator elements and said frame and axle, the normal operative pressure in said recuperator being in excess, by a small amount, of

that necessary to balance said frame and its load, a pump for building up an opposing pressure to lower said frame with respect to said axle and increase the pressure in said recuperator, and means whereby said increased pressure in the recuperator is made effective to raise said axlewith respect to said frame, or said frame with respect to said axle.

9. In suspension apparatus for gun-carriage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a pressure vessel, a cylinder communicating therewith and a piston working in said cylinder, connections between said recuperator elements and said frame and axle, a pump for building up pressure in said cylinder in opposition to the hydropneumatic pressure in said vessel, a tank containing a fluid from which said pump draws, ducts through which said ta'nkmay with respect to communicate with said pressure vessel and said cylinder, and valves controlling said ducts.

10. In suspension apparatus for gun-carriage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a pressure vessel, a cylinder communicating therewith and a piston working in said cylinder, connectionsbetween said recuperator elements and said frame and axle, a pump forbuilding up. pressure in said cylinder in opposition to the hydropneumatic pressure in said vessel, a tank containing a fluidfrom which said pump draws, a duct between said tank and said cylinder, a duct between said cylinder and said vessel, and coordinated valves controlling said ducts. 1

-11. In suspension apparatus for gun-carriage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a' pressure vessel, a cylinder communicating therewith and a piston working in said cylinder, connections between said recuperator elements and said frame and axle, a pump for building up pressure in said cylinder in opposition to the hydropneumatic pressure in said vessel, a tank containing a fluid from which said pump draws, a duct between said tank and said cylinder, a duct between said cylinder and said vessel, valves in said ducts, and means whereby only one of said valves may be open at a time.

12. In suspension apparatus for gun-carriage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a pressure vessel, a cylinder communicating therewith and a piston working in said cylinder, connections between said recuperator elements and said frame and axle, a pump for building up pressure in said cylinder in opposition to the hydro-pneumatic pressure in said vessel, a tank containing a fluid from which said pump draws, a duct between said tank and said cylinder, a duct between said cylinder and said vessel, valves in said ducts having stems provided with grooves, anda rocking beam adapted to engage in either of said grooves.

13. In suspension apparatus for gun-carriage frames and the like, the combination with the carriage frame and a wheel axle thereof, of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator comprising a pressure vessel, a cylinder communicating therewith and a piston working in said cylinder, connections between said recuperatorelements and said frame and axle, a pump for building up pressure in said cylinder in opposition to the hydropneumatic pressure in said vessel, a tank containing a fluid from which said pump draws,

i t ducts-thiengh which said may deliver int0 eitherseid cylinder or saidfvesselya, 3 second 'dnct betweens'aid tank and said cylinder, and valves controlling each of said 1 i p with the carriage frame and a wheel axle;

thereof of a hydr0-pneurnatic recuperator: comprising ai cylinder andf a piston workingtherein, fc onneetions between said-reefipera-u tonelements and setidffime and"a X1e,- an dducts. 7

" with "the carriage frameland. a wheel. axle fto the'caLrriaJge frame, a connection between tweensa id frame endisai'd cylinder for eush fioning downward movement of thegcylinder '1 .with respect to the frame;

I 14. In" suspension epparatus foigun-net; -;riage frames;- and the 1ike,' the combination.

.- thereof, of a. hydro-pneumatic recupei'ato geomprising a, cylinder enda piston'working -'-therein,=a piston 'od ponnecting said piston *said cylin'der and said'axle, and aspring be p 1'5.' 'In .s1 spensi0napparatus foriguni can, 1 riag'ej frames endthe like, the combination;

ainoiintv 'Ofthet necessary-to balance said; framelanditsload. iv e q :16. In suspensionjapparatus forqgunrear riage frames the lslike,"the' combination} means for overcoming the, pressure in said sionf apparatus for gun car- V riage. frames and the like, the combination with' the carriige frame'iand a, Wheel side- 1 thereof," of a hydro-pneumatic recuperator;

recuperatoritolower said fnaine withi espect H I comprising a cylinderend a piston orking therein,'. and connections between said re;

with' the carriage frame and a wheel axle: c p'eraton elements and said frame and axlegy '20 thereof, of *a ,hy(Elroqeneu natic recuperator ny whereof have g d thi comprising'a-cylinder and a piston Working SPGClfiOLtlOII. 1 i f therein, and connections between, seidl rev 'EUGENE'SCHNEIDERL 1 "1 enperatorelementsandsaid frame and axle, wdtn ss sf 1 n 2 I the Operative "supporting pressure in "said ANDRE MOSTIOKER, 2'5 recupemton being in excess by a, 1 small JOHN F. )SIMONS.

I 1] T j, Copies 01 this patent, may be obtained. for fiveeents each, by addressing the Commissioner 6f Patents, j j f Washington, D. 6. i 

